Landlord question... renting a single family home

[SandrA9810]

Ok.. I won't go into much detail over it all.

Pretty much I have a friend that rented out a small 1 bedroom place from a lady in her house. It's been renovated, allowing for the entrance area to be separated. So his part is separate from her area of the house.

Well he's only been there for a month, and she is being a huge pain. Constantly knocking on his door for this or that, complaining about his hygiene (she doesn't like his deodorant). I was there today when she decided to talk to him, telling him that he needs to start using non smelling deodorant because she doesn't want to smell his. She also didn't give me a pleasant attitude, is the guy not allowed to have friends of the opposite sex over??

He's not about to change his personal life for her, and doesn't like her constant interruption. So he wants out. I did a search on the net, and it's stated as the home being a single family home. Is there a more refined search to see if that area is in an HOA, or if the houses in that area can be turned into a multi unit like that? He doesn't want to take it that far (like go to court and all that other junk), but I figure if he can say "well legally you're not allowed to be renting this... how about we just settle this by letting me move out without paying extra fees".

thanks for the help.

BTW, the house is located in Orlando. Since I know laws vary by county/state.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Did he sign a lease? If he didn't sign a lease he most likely could just get out of it as a month to month rental and just give 30 days notice.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

From the way it sounds, she is either way too controlling, OR she doesn't want him there any more than he wants to be there. I think he shouls just talk to her and see if she will let him out of the lease. If that doesn't work, then he can look into the HOA and zoning, but even if it is zoned that she can't have an apartment there, it would take so long to fight it.

 

[kellyg403]

Yeah, sounds like she either has issues or is second guessing her decision to rent.

I would definitely speak to her and reach a common ground if I could. Maybe she doesn't realize she is a PITA. Maybe she rented to someone before your friend that she got along well with and assumed it would be the same.

Do they have a lease together? Before going any further, I would talk to her and try to negotiate. In the end, should they have a lease..regardless of zoning..he is obligated for his end of the lease. Not knowing the rules/laws in your state, my guess is both parties entered into the lease knowingly and without force. He is obligated. I would imagine if the city came in and evicted your friend because of the zoning he would have a good case, but short of doing the telling, not sure that would be the right thing to do. Especially if they have not tried discussing their issues.

Kelly

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd probably wouldn't go looking for zoning violations until he spoke with the lady about it.

She may be busting them off on him in an effort to make him go because she has found someone she would rather rent to. In this case, if he says "This doesn't seem to be working out so perhaps I should consider moving" she'd be going .

She may have decided she isn't comfortable having a male renter in which case if he discusses leaving, she'll be like .

She may have a "thing" for him and uses any excuse to be able to talk to him.

In any event, it sounds like he needs to go, so go I would and if it means threatening to reprot her illegal apartment, then so be it. He can pretty much find out anything he needs to about the town's zoning laws at the town hall in the Planning and Zoning Department.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Town zoning laws won't tell the whole story if there is an HOA in place.

Lease determination first, then talk with the landowner, then look at HOA bylaws...

 

[SandrA9810]

well he did tell her that he wants to move out because he's not going to change his showering habits. Nothing in the lease states anything about perfumes or scents or anything of the sort.
It doesn't seem like she knew what she was getting into. Maybe she had a female renter for a long time that didn't bother her. But now she seems to be playing this role of demanding mother rather than a landlord. And personally i wouldn't be abe to stand some one knocking on my door everyday, complaining about the way i do things.

She flat out said "i'm positive, most people don't like all the body spray stuff you wear, but just can't tell you." I didn't say a word, but i was thinking "what the heck are you talking about?"


my aunt said that she isn't providing a habitable place to live, which is first and formost of renting. And that should be enough to break to lease without penalty. Truthfully, i would think, if a judge heard she wanted to penalize him for his choice of deodorant, he would laugh in her face.

Growing up my family rented out the second story apartment on our house. And so i know a little about that houses are supposed to be zones for multi family, if rent is being paid by a second family. And she has renovated her house to provide a seperate living area, with a complete kitchen (which is what deemed our apartment as a seperate apartment from the main house). So i'm sure she should have changed her housing to multi family in order to rent it out legally.

 

[kellyg403]

well he did tell her that he wants to move out because he's not going to change his showering habits. Nothing in the lease states anything about perfumes or scents or anything of the sort.
It doesn't seem like she knew what she was getting into. Maybe she had a female renter for a long time that didn't bother her. But now she seems to be playing this role of demanding mother rather than a landlord. And personally i wouldn't be abe to stand some one knocking on my door everyday, complaining about the way i do things.

She flat out said "i'm positive, most people don't like all the body spray stuff you wear, but just can't tell you." I didn't say a word, but i was thinking "what the heck are you talking about?"


my aunt said that she isn't providing a habitable place to live, which is first and formost of renting. And that should be enough to break to lease without penalty. Truthfully, i would think, if a judge heard she wanted to penalize him for his choice of deodorant, he would laugh in her face.

Growing up my family rented out the second story apartment on our house. And so i know a little about that houses are supposed to be zones for multi family, if rent is being paid by a second family. And she has renovated her house to provide a seperate living area, with a complete kitchen (which is what deemed our apartment as a seperate apartment from the main house). So i'm sure she should have changed her housing to multi family in order to rent it out legally.

I was under the understanding 'habitable' would mean, free of pests, molds, running water, electricity, doors/locks, refrigerator in running order.

How does she even smell his deodorant in her apartment/house? How is she planning to penalize him?

Very odd situation!
Kelly

 

[SandrA9810]

Truthfully there's nothing that she can do about his body sprays, but knock on his door daily. And he doesn't want to put up with her long enough for her to throw in the towel on this.

But habitable as in a "peaceful place to live", not harassing him daily about his way of living. Which is way out of line for a landlord, whether he's residing under the same roof or not.


The home has central AC. So whatever he does on his side of the house is being recirculated by the AC unit. At least this is how I think it's happening. He has mentioned she controls the temp in the whole house.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

well he did tell her that he wants to move out because he's not going to change his showering habits. Nothing in the lease states anything about perfumes or scents or anything of the sort.
It doesn't seem like she knew what she was getting into. Maybe she had a female renter for a long time that didn't bother her. But now she seems to be playing this role of demanding mother rather than a landlord. And personally i wouldn't be abe to stand some one knocking on my door everyday, complaining about the way i do things.

She flat out said "i'm positive, most people don't like all the body spray stuff you wear, but just can't tell you." I didn't say a word, but i was thinking "what the heck are you talking about?"


my aunt said that she isn't providing a habitable place to live, which is first and formost of renting. And that should be enough to break to lease without penalty. Truthfully, i would think, if a judge heard she wanted to penalize him for his choice of deodorant, he would laugh in her face.

Growing up my family rented out the second story apartment on our house. And so i know a little about that houses are supposed to be zones for multi family, if rent is being paid by a second family. And she has renovated her house to provide a seperate living area, with a complete kitchen (which is what deemed our apartment as a seperate apartment from the main house). So i'm sure she should have changed her housing to multi family in order to rent it out legally.

Although I am all for the guy and he needs to move out for his sanity... she's being way out of line but maybe, just maybe, his scents are overwhelming.

I'm not saying she's right in what she's doing but if even the most rotten person says something about my hygiene, I still think to re-evaluate it a little... does my perfume really stink, am I putting a decent smelling perfume on, etc.

 

[SandrA9810]

he doesn't put on that much. And it doesn't make his entire place smell of it either. Just when he gets out of the shower and puts a little on.

I've known guys that are allergic to the world put on stronger stuff than him.

 

[wdwfan16]

Do they share common spaces?

 

[Magic Mom]

If he wants out that bad, then he shouldn't try to weasel out of it. He should just pay the penalty and move.

 

[SandrA9810]

Just the entry way is shared.

I would describe it more like a mud room... one door to her side, one to his, and one to the garage. So there's no shared living space.

 

[Magic Mom]

So are you planning on being roommates when he find a new place?

 

[SandrA9810]

he's offered in passing, but i doubt it.

I just see this as a lot of money, plus he's gonna have to find some place else, put a deposit down, and all that other fun stuff. Right now, I'm seeing $$$$ and wondering how he's going to pull it all off. He was so excited about finding this place, and how cheap the rent was, and all this other stuff. Now he's wanting to run. Maybe I'm sticking my nose in too far, even though he's the one that complains about her to me.

I just figure, if I'm going to throw my two cents out there about getting out of the lease, I should at least have correct information.

 

[wdwfan16]

he's offered in passing, but i doubt it.

I just see this as a lot of money, plus he's gonna have to find some place else, put a deposit down, and all that other fun stuff. Right now, I'm seeing $$$$ and wondering how he's going to pull it all off. He was so excited about finding this place, and how cheap the rent was, and all this other stuff. Now he's wanting to run. Maybe I'm sticking my nose in too far, even though he's the one that complains about her to me.

If there is so much good about this place he needs to use unscented stuff and put cash in the bank.